Theme Park

Listen

Theme Park – twins Marcus and Miles Haughton and childhood friend Oscar Manthorpe – began in earnest when the brothers returned from university, whilst Oscar was still a student in Leeds. The band released their debut single ‘Wax/A Mountain We Love’, on Transgressive offshoot ParadYse in August 2011. The following day, they performed their first ever live show at London’s Lexington. Despite a late start to live performance the band have been making up for lost time, touring the UK with Two Door Cinema Club, Bloc Party and Bombay Bicycle Club, as well as opening for Florence + The Machine at Alexandra Palace.

Their debut self-titled album, released February 2013, evokes far flung places and sun-kissed days, although it was actually recorded in a poky, almost windowless studio in Hackney. “I find it interesting that people can write when they’re sad,” Miles says. “I write when I’m in a wave of happiness and euphoria because I want to share the feeling.” Haughton’s attitude shines through in Theme Park’s rhythmic, euphoric, groove-oriented, dreamlike and melodic electronic pop. It’s guitar and synth music informed by dance, and vice versa.

The aim of ‘Theme Park’, says Marcus, is to capture a moment in time – that rich period of life between school and the early 20s.“It’s hopefully an optimistic album, and I’d like to think slightly romantic,” continues Miles. “I don’t mean that in the love sense, but in the slightly idealistic way. It’s easy to be cynical – I like to give the world a chance.”